Many of our students are starting to pack up their bags and leave Southampton to set off for a well-earned summer break or to a new job. While you may want to dash off as quickly as possible, here are a couple of things to consider to make moving out easy.
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When the time comes to move out of your house or flat you will probably want to move as quickly as possible. We advise however that you don’t rush these key steps when moving out:
Book in or schedule time to move
Moving always takes longer than expected, so make your move as stress-free as possible by allowing more than enough time to move and make sure you have everything organised well in advance of leaving.
Re-check your contract
Your landlord might have stipulated how you should leave the property after your tenancy ends. Make sure you check the contract to see if you are required to get in an external cleaner or leave furniture in a certain place.
Take an inventory
This is just as important as the one you did when you moved in, as it means you can now evidence the levels of wear and tear/damage that occurred during your tenancy if there is a dispute over your deposit.
Take photographs/video with dates
As when you moved in, take photos of any potential problem areas. It can be helpful to back up detailed photos with a “walk-through” video of the property to get an overall idea of the cleanliness etc.
Take the latest meter readings
You may be asked to provide readings to utility companies when you move out such that you are not charged for the next tenants’ usage.
Cancel/move your utilities
This will be a much shorter conversation than when you moved in, you just need to state to the utility companies (gas, electricity) that you are moving out and provide the final meter readings. For any accounts that you can move (internet/phone), do so as soon as you can to avoid any unexpected bills.
Remember to let other companies know you’ve moved
The most common ones that are forgotten are car registration with the DVLA and billing addresses with banks, make sure you let them know you’ve moved! It can be very embarrassing to pick up your online shopping delivery from your old property a few months into your new tenancy!
Claim any refunds from TV Licencing
You may be entitled to a refund for any unused months on your TV licence.
Lock the doors and windows
Ensure the property is secure before you leave.
Claiming back your deposit and deposit disputes
The deposit you made when securing your property at the start of the tenancy should be returned to you if you carry out everything that is expected of you and return the property in the clean and tidy state it was in when you moved in.
If your landlord withholds part or all of your deposit, you may dispute their reasoning or the level of deductions that they have requested. As your deposit would have been registered with a Government Deposit Protection Scheme, this dispute can now be managed by that company. More information can be found here. If you require assistance with a deposit dispute, please contact the Advice Centre.
Get rid of extra items
Furniture: All furniture already in the house should be thoroughly cleaned and repaired or replaced where necessary. However, if you’re worried about fitting everything into your car and have lots of bulky items, consider using the student-run ‘free and for sale group‘.
Clothing: When rooting in the depths of your wardrobe and at the very back of your drawers, you may come across a long forgotten item of clothing you won’t dare to wear again. Instead of carting the item back with you to once again bury it at the back of your wardrobe, donate the item to one of the many charity shops in the Portswood area and give it another life.
Books: It is a good idea to consider whether the course books you have amassed over the year will be of use to you next year, before you pack up the heavy items to take home. Alongside donating your unwanted books to a charity, it’s worthwhile posting on a faculty Facebook page or leaving a note with your professor explaining that you have a book available if anyone is interested in a second-hand copy.